Mayor Duterte asks for discipline during observance of All Souls Day

In his weekend television program "Para sa Masa, Gikan sa Masa," Duterte reiterated his appeal to the public to make the day of the dead a moment of meditation prayer.

There had been a lot of changes in the modern day observance of All Souls Day where people spruce up the tombs to show the dead that they are still remembered to the point of installing sound system where people can be seen singing to their hearts content and creating noise. Some also bring in liquor for a drinking spree.

Duterte said he will not allow intoxicating liquor in and out of the cemeteries and the bringing of apparatus to the point of creating noise and disturbing others who want to remember their departed peacefully.

Policemen are deployed in various public cemeteries and are instructed to confiscate liquors that will be brought in. The police will also hold the entry of sound system into the cemetery.

"When we remember our dead we go to the cemetery and we are suppose to be there to commune with them through prayers," he said.

Vendors within and outside the premises of the cemetery are also warned not to set up "Videoke" in their stalls.

Meanwhile, the Davao City traffic management center will deploy traffic personnel in 16 hours shift to ensure smooth flow of vehicles and pedestrians going in and out of cemeteries.

Davao City has 11 public cemeteries and five privately owned memorial parks.

Meanwhile, Davao City is already placed under heightened alert until the holding of the National Youth Day that will end in November 12, 2006.

City police director Catalino Cuy said that during the observance of All Souls Day, the policemen will do routine inspection and will see to it that the observance of the All Souls Day will be carried out smoothly.

Although he said that as far as terrorism is concern the threat is everywhere however their campaign will be reinforced by Task Force Davao and the 100 new graduates of the Regional Mobile Group will be mobilized. (PIA XI) [top]